He's got a plan to solve state's power crisis
Alan T. Saracevic
Sunday, May 6, 2001
©2001 San Francisco Chronicle

As our great state hurtles toward a summer of blackouts, an entrepreneur in Benicia is trying to sell the state on a software solution to the crisis.

Roland Schoettle, a Canadian now doing business on the Delta, says "We have the only realistic and viable solution to the power crisis."

The "we" in question is Optimal Technologies, a tech startup that specializes in network optimization. The "what" is a software system that Schoettle says can analyze California's power grid and optimize its distribution of electricity.

"If we're allowed to run our software on the system . . . we can probably find an excess of 5 percent capacity," said Schoettle. "That's enough to get us out of blackouts."

Schoettle was in Sacramento on Friday demonstrating his system to officials from the California Energy Commission, the California Independent System Operator, PG and the California Environmental Protection Agency.

"We do have an interest in the software, but we don't know enough to make a final decision yet," said Armando Perez, director of grid planning for Cal-ISO, the independent regulatory body that oversees the state's power grid.

Winston Hickox, agency secretary of the state EPA, said he thinks Schoettle may be onto something big.

"What I think Optimal has developed is an algorithm that people have attempted to develop for 50 years," said Hickox.

But Hickox remains wary considering the state's precarious position.

"We're looking for any opportunity to improve the situation we're facing without being snookered into considering the next perpetual motion machine," said Hickox. "On behalf of the people of California, we need to look at what technology can help extricate us from this mess."

We'll keep you posted on whether Schoettle's got the goods.

Talk back. Send your items to Money Talks at asaracevic@sfchronicle.com.

©2001 San Francisco Chronicle
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